Pre-holiday breakdowns

rdwarr

Why do cars seem to break down just when you least need them to. Our Toyota Estima has served us faithfully for 100,000+ miles over the last six years but today the exhaust decided to fall to bits.
Tomorrow we're setting off or a 500 mile drive to France :eek:

Of course it's an import so nobody has the bits in. Fortunately my local independent thinks he can get it back together with some welding kit and a new bit of pipe but it's all a bit last minute (and Heath Robinson) for comfort!

Still, at least it didn't happen in France - these cars are RHD only so unheard of there.

zappahey

Oh yes, I recognise that. Some years ago, the head gasket went on my SAAB 99 just a day or so before we were due to drive to Belgium. Turned out the head was damaged too. I ended up on a pre-dawn drive to a distant breakers to pick up a cylinder head and the run to the ferry port was the test drive

Wayne3765

zappahey wrote:

Oh yes, I recognise that.

Me too , I once had a water pump go on me about an hour before I was due to drive from South Wales to Blackpool for a weekend.
I've now got breakdown cover with green flag and they will give up to £800 for car hire costs if my car breaks down within 7 days of a pre arranged trip and cannot be fixed within 24 hours , will also cover for missed ferry crossings if caused by a breakdown too.

Dan29

I had just finished loading the car for a recent trip to France when I noticed I had my first flat tyre for years, and the (50mph maximum speed space-saver) spare wheel was of course under all the luggage. AND it was 6am so no tyre places were open!